Former Army star McNary psyched to make NFL debut

Josh McNary gives Andrew Luck a barrier as the Colts star quarterback drops back to pass.

Sal Interdonato

Josh McNary gives Andrew Luck a barrier as the Colts star quarterback drops back to pass.

Even a sniff of Luck during an Indianapolis practice is off-limits.

"Hell no, I haven't hit Luck," said McNary, Army's all-time sack leader who had spent the first 11 weeks of the NFL season on the Colts' practice squad. "He has like a 5-yard force field I try to stay outside of."

On Sunday, McNary will be allowed to hit and hit hard. McNary finally received the break he's been waiting for. On Tuesday afternoon, linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald informed McNary, a 2011 West Point graduate, that he was being promoted to the big team.

"I've been practicing the first 11 weeks of the season and I've been coached as if I have been active," McNary said. "I've been getting repetitions throughout the season and practice. It's been extremely rewarding because I've been able to learn so much and make so many strides in my development at linebacker."

McNary will make his NFL debut, primarily playing special teams, on Sunday when the Colts host the Titans and his former college teammate Collin Mooney. The Colts (7-4) lead the Titans by two games in the AFC South.

"It's extremely exciting," said McNary, 25, who is 6-foot and 245 pounds. "It's more of an incentive to pay attention and hold myself accountable so I don't let my team down with whatever I'm doing."

McNary was approached by a Colts scout at a regional combine in early April at Cowboys Stadium. Indianapolis general manager Ryan Grigson personally called McNary on April 10, expressing the Colts' interest in signing McNary as a free agent. McNary was released from active duty after completing a two-year commitment on May 25. He made the Colts' practice squad despite not playing a down of football since the 2011 East-West Shrine Game.

"I kept believing in the coaches and the staff," said McNary, who helped Army to a 2010 Armed Forces Bowl win, its first postseason victory in 25 years. "Everyone in the Colts organization was really good about maintaining my morale. They really gave me feedback with what I needed to work on and how close I am to getting promoted. They kept me on the edge of my seat this season. It's really hard to get down on yourself when you have such a strong support system behind you."

McNary has always been one to overcome the odds. He was walk-on at Army Prep and left West Point with career records in sacks (28) and tackles for loss (49).

McNary hopes his latest accomplishment inspires current and future Army players to always believe in themselves.

"I always think about who I represent when I step out on the field," McNary said. "It puts everything in perspective and gives you a lot more to play for. I know if I were in their shoes and I would see a recent grad and a former teammate from West Point, knowing how tough of a dream it is to make it to the next level in any sport and I would be pretty inspired. It would definitely encourage me to be the absolute best player I could be.

"Seeing one of your former teammates from West Point in the league and flourishing, it breaks that glass ceiling that a lot of guys perceive about cadets and their football careers."